MANILA, Philippines — Tracy Maureen Perez is already set to relinquish her Miss World Philippines title just eight months after bagging her crown in October last year. But despite having a truncated reign, the beauty queen said she feels happy with what she was able to accomplish in such short a stint as a titleholder.

“I’m happy for my successor, but I’m honestly a bit sad that it’s about to end. I had such an amazing journey both in the Miss World Philippines competition and in the Miss World itself,” Perez told the Inquirer on the sidelines of the press launch of the Miss World Philippines pageant’s partnership with Doill Technologies Inc. held at Kingsford Hotel in Parañaque City on May 25.

The national pageant organization is releasing NFTs (non-fungible tokens) to raise funds for its advocacy projects on education and mental health. And Doill Technologies is helping merge blockchain technology with real-world engagements through the beauty contest by providing the platform for pageant followers and supporters to proactively take part in the Miss World Philippines’ thrust in making lives better for Filipinos.

“We are filled with so many activities now, and I make sure I’m hands-on in the activities this year, So overall, I’m happy for the turnout,” Perez continued.

The Cebuana lass, who finished in the Top 10 of the 70th Miss World pageant in Puerto Rico, said she believes she was able to fulfill much of what she set out to accomplish as a national titleholder with her participation in the global tilt.

Miss Multinational Philippines Shaila Rebortera (left) and First Princess Riana Pangindian (Photo by ARMIN P. ADINA / Contributor)

Perez made sure to showcase the best of the Philippines and highlight the Filipino talent in the international arena. “I was also able to shed light on the struggles of the single mothers all over the Philippines and especially in my community. So that alone, even if it’s just a small act of win for me, that I was able to bring that up on the international stage, I think that alone is enough for me to say that I was able to do my part as your Miss Philippines,” Perez shared.

The outgoing queen said she would love to crown a successor who, like her, loves her parents.

“It’s very, very important that you give them all the credit, and that you stay grounded,” she said.

The next queen, Perez added, should “know that being a Miss Philippines is not a normal job, it takes so much responsibility, who does know in her heart that it’s gonna be hard to be the next Miss Philippines, but disregards all of those difficulties and still chooses to carry our country with so much pride.”

After relinquishing her title, Perez would love to resume practicing industrial engineering but said she is not closing her doors on a possible entry into the entertainment industry.

“But most of alI, I really want to continue my advocacy project for the single mothers. I also wanna take part in education and peace talks, and mental health awareness, of course,” she continued.

Perez also said she would love to be invited to schools to share her personal experiences with the students, and also listen to the children’s stories and help uplift their situation.

Perez will relinquish her Miss World Philippines crown at the coronation night which will be staged at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City on June 5.

Some of the 36 Miss World Philippines pageant delegates/ARMIN P. ADINA

Thirty-six ladies are vying for her crown, as well as four other titles—Miss Supranational Philippines, Miss Eco Philippines, Reina Hispanoamericana Filipinas, and Miss Eco Teen Philippines.

Perez’s pageant sister Kathleen Paton brought home the Philippines’ second Miss Eco International crown from Egypt, while her teenage counterpart Tatyana Austria finished second in the Miss Eco Teen International pageant.

Dindi Pajares was in the Top 12 of the Miss Supranational pageant in Poland, while Emmanuelle Vera finished fourth in the Reina Hispanoamericana contest in Bolivia.

Michelle Arceo represented the Philippines in the inaugural edition of the Miss Environment International pageant in India where she was proclaimed Miss Ecosystem, or first runner-up. The Miss World Philippines pageant is reportedly not sending another delegate to the said global tilt, as well as in the Miss Multinational pageant whose last contest was staged in 2019. Shaila Rebortera was set to compete in the 2022 edition, while her predecessor Isabella de Leon finished her reign without seeing action abroad.

Another “stay-at-home” queen was 2021 Miss Philippines Tourism Trisha Martinez, who was supposed to compete in an international pageant that did not take place as scheduled.

The Philippines is trying to secure its second Miss World victory, nine years after Megan Young became the first Filipino woman to bring home the “blue crown” from the London-based pageant.